Alice Chau
Position/What you do at U of R?
I'm a postdoc at EES/U of R, working with Dr. Miki Nakajima. I am broadly interested in planet formation and evolution, but always happy to collaborate on different things!
Where are you from?
I'm Swiss. I've lived in Zurich lastly but grew up in the French-speaking region.
What got you interested in Earth and Environmental Sciences?
I have always been interested in a lot of stuff; Earth science came only recently so this is going to be a long answer. I do love the Alps but not to the point of studying them ahem. Instead, I chose physics because of the standard model of particle physics, and well, to make a point about, or rather against, some societal expectations. Later, I got interested in the universe and structure formation, which led to astrophysics and planet formation as my research background. After an interlude in public administration, now I look at our own planet, so here I am, learning more about Earth. It's very literal as I get to know rocks and landscapes that I am just not used to.
What do you enjoy most about U of R?
The art and science as well as the New York and Midwest crossover. Not just at U of R but also the city. It's very fascinating for me and weirdly, feels very familiar too.
What is the one thing that instantly makes your day better?
People make me laugh a lot. Often, it's just situational humor. And sometimes, we inadvertently start some running jokes, and they end up being very good.
Do you have any hidden talents or hobbies?
No specific talent but an artsy crafty side. Like I knit, cross-stitch, color, paint, write, get jewels or... tattoos. At this point, it is not even hidden anymore 😄